Ohio Highway Patrol cites more than 10K in Click It or Ticket campaign

An Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers prints out a traffic citation issued from a computer inside his car.
An Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers prints out a traffic citation issued from a computer inside his car. Kristi Garabrandt — The News-Herald

By Kristi Garabrandt, The News-Herald

Who the Click It or Ticket campaign targets

Primary

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration aimed to reach these groups:

• Caucasian males, 18 to 34 years old. This is the largest demographic that does not wear seat belts.

• Those who drive pickup trucks. Seat belt use remains lower with drivers of pickup trucks than drivers of other vehicle types.

• Male teens, 15 to 17 years old.

Secondary

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration aimed to raise awareness with and influence these groups to always wear a seat belt:

• Hispanic males, 18 to 34 years old. Hispanic drivers have lower seat belt use rates than non-Hispanic whites, as well as higher fatality rates.

• African American males, 18 to 34 years old.

Source: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports 10,278 safety belts citations and 193 child safety seat citations were issued during the 2018 National Ticket or Click It Campaign. The campaign ran from May 21 to June 3.

There were 1,390 safety belt citations issued and two child restraint citations issued in District 4 during the campaign’s two-week period, according to Lt. Lawrence Roberts of the Chardon Post. District Four covers Ashtabula, Columbiana, Geauga, Lake, Mahoning, Portage, Trumbull, Wayne and Holmes counties.

“During the 2017 National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration Click it or Ticket campaign, 13 of 25 people killed were not wearing an available safety belt,” according to a news release from the Ohio Department of Transportation. OHP issued 11,205 safety belt and 221 child safety seat citations in last year’s campaign.

Although citations issued during the 2018 campaign dropped, OHP statistics indicate that Lake and Geauga counties have seen a rise in seat belt violations for the first half of the year compared to the first half of 2017.

From Jan. 1 to June 30, 2017, troopers issued 725 seat belt violations. The same time period for 2018 saw that number increase to 1,335. Geauga County has also seen an increase with the numbers going from 153 citations issued in 2017 to 220 citations issued in 2018.

Seat belt usage continues to be a primary focus of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, as it is estimated that about two thirds of families will be hitting the highways for a summer road trip.

“The Chardon Post issued 239 seat belt citations during the Click it or ticket campaign. I believe our efforts were very successful,” Roberts said. “We take enforcing traffic laws seriously, and troopers were highly visible during this Click it or Ticket campaign. If you are in a traffic crash, wearing a safety belt significantly increases your likelihood of survival. This is why my officers are dedicated to enforcing safety belt usage. We thank everyone who slowed down, buckled up and designated sober drivers. We ask that you do the same every time you get behind the wheel.”

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